JERSEY CAMCORDER CLUB
VIDEO FILM-
Scientists predict that global warming is the most serious threat to the future of our planet, and that rising sea levels, lack of rain and high temperatures are due to CO2 gases. They say we must reduce their emissions in order to protect the environment in which we live. But there are also claims that climate changes are a natural part of earth’s evolution, and that CO2 gases are not the main problem. In fact there is proof that temperature changes have been happening over thousands of years, causing climates ranging from tropical to ice ages, long before we had combustion engines and smoke from industrial industries.
But nonetheless the buzz word now is environmental control, and we are told we must recycle as much of our rubbish as possible, and reduce our use of all forms of energy. And – to quote Maggie Thatcher – get on your bike or walk, instead of using the car. However I think this will be difficult for young people (and I include those around 50 or so), as they have grown up in a throw away society, and have never known life without television, central heating, washing machines, mobile phones, computers – and of course camcorders.
But oldies like myself have experienced living without these things, so perhaps we can cope with the changes a little more easily. We always used to cycle to work, and most tools were manually operated. We regularly pushed handcarts with materials, steps and ladders (no carbon emissions). We had to chop firewood and carry buckets of coal indoors for the fires and oven range, so we didn’t waste energy heating more water than was needed – or heating bedrooms and rooms not being used. We just wore warmer clothing. Although of course this was to save money also. But we always lived by the saying ‘Waste not, want not’.
So DON’T leave the TV on standby!
What a year 2007 has been and how the years have flown! It’s 65 years since I started at the JEC – on the 15th September 1942. Then 5 years later I had to treat some of the lads in a pub when I finished my trade apprenticeship and applied for membership of the skilled section of the Electrical Trades Union – as it was called then.
The big surprise this year was my 80th birthday party organised by my children – Ann and Philip. It was at the Red Rose Restaurant, Trinity, and I was led to believe we were having a family meal with just Philip, Ann and Ralf. I tell you that I nearly fell through the floor when I saw such a crowd. There was my sister Clare with Jim, my cousins, nieces, neighbours and also all my friends from the Camcorder Club. It made me feel special to be surrounded by such nice, friendly people.
I’d like to give a big thank you to Derek for videoing the party, and to all those who came to celebrate my birthday, and of course to Ann and Philip for making it all possible. It was a wonderful evening.
Also this year both Lois (fellow Club member) and I celebrated our 80th anniversaries with champagne and snacks at Lois’s house, followed by a meal at the Windmill with all our Jersey Camcorder Club friends. How lucky we were to have such good company.
On a sad note I was upset to receive Laurie’s note saying that he was resigning as Chairman. Both he and Pauline have been dedicated to the Club and worked hard to help the members with computer problems or to give advice. He told me he even enjoyed reading Charlie’s Chat page in the Newsletter, for which I’m grateful. I hope he will still be around to give me some stick.
CHARLIE’S CHAT
ARCHIVES 2
It was while I was making the porridge for breakfast one morning that I remembered this saying of my father’s. When I had forgotten what he told me to do, I was
Isn’t it strange how little things remind you of something that happened years ago? Often you meet someone you haven’t seen for ages, maybe years, and then stories of yester-
Recently the obituary of Wally Battrick caught my attention. Once we were working together at Martin’s Bank, which was formerly Halkett Hotel, and is now Morier House. Harold Le Scelleur was doing the reconstruction work, and the JEC the electrical installation, and Wally was working with us at the time (about 1950) and he was given the honour of connecting the major conduit pipe between the main corridor and the east wing. We painted the ends of the pipe and the connecting coupling with gold paint and gave Wally a clap as he completed the joint.
Wally was always a joker and used to make funny faces or do antics from a window to amuse some children outside who were waiting for their parents. One day the children called out ‘Mummy said you should be working, not looking out of the window’. Another joker was Mick who had a hand held siren which he wound up for our lunch breaks until Le Scelleur complained.
I could go on forever about Martin’s Bank and the fun we had. Perhaps we could try making a film about it?